Re: The Football Chat (cont) : Wed May 30, 2012 11:34 am  

Roddy B wrote:

For me, growing up as a lad and seeing lads growing up now, there seems to be an emphasis on winning too much. Any kid with his head screwed on will want to win, but kids grow up with men balling at them from such an age. I know as a lad I'd worry what parents would shout from the sidelines, coaches too. I've read that in other countries, teams spend far more time training and putting emphasis on 'fun' and 'ability'. Go to a training session at a grass-roots football side and you'll see kids doing laps, a few shuttle runs and a few stretches. Between each 'session' they'll spend time hammering the ball at the goalkeeper, or trying long, raking passes to their mates. After that, it's the routine match where people get picked, or the coach picks the team. It usually ends in a few arguments and very little growth. That's the biggest problem in England, players grow into athletes, but none of our players seem to grow into footballers.

Grass roots in Spain is so far ahead of england that its impossible for England to catch up, or get anywhere close

Re: The Football Chat (cont) : Wed May 30, 2012 11:58 am  

Cibaman wrote:

To be honest I'm not sure that quality of coaching, or the approach to coaching, makes that much difference apart from with the very elite coaches. Its a very simple equation, the more people that participate in a sport at all levels the more succesful and the higher are the standards in that country.

Its all about increasing the size of the talent pool. Brazil have dominated football because they have three times as many players, at all levels, than any other country. New Zealand has the most RU players. The Aussies overtook GB at RL when their total number of players started to significantly exceed GB's. The failure of Scotland to produce players with the talent of Law, Dalglish, Bremner, Gray, Gemmill, Johnstone etc is primarily due to a catastrophic decline in the number of kids playing the game.

If more kids are encouraged to play the game, more top quality players will emerge. And to get kids playing the game youth football has to be played in a way that they will enjoy.

But having fewer players on the pitch will mean fewer kids get the opportunity. There are very few junior teams these days due to the cost. These changes are going to mean an awful lot of kids quit football as they can't get into a team. Like I said before there are only 4 teams currently registered at my son's age group and the one he plays for has 17 kids. Moving to 5 a side will mean probably 10 of those kids will either just keep training without playing matches or quit.

In this country we're at a massive disadvantage because of the climate. For half the year kids simply cannot play football socially of an evening as it's dark, freezing or raining. In the Spain's and Brazil's it's not the case, they've got masses more sunshine hours. Having more playing will obviously correlate to more elite players, but there is so much that can be done to improve the standard generally.

Re: The Football Chat (cont) : Wed May 30, 2012 12:43 pm  

How good is this Kigawa character? I can't say I've ever seen him play to be honest.

Is he the real deal or just a commercial venture to sell shirts in Asia? Interesting that the Commercial Director of Manchester United is the one fielding the questions on him.

Re: The Football Chat (cont) : Wed May 30, 2012 2:25 pm  

Kagawa is a great player. Seen him a bunch of times for Dortmund this year. Can't understand why Dortmund are selling him actually.

[John_D]

Re: The Football Chat (cont) : Wed May 30, 2012 2:56 pm  

Bang wrote:

Can't understand why Dortmund are selling him actually.

Last year of his contract, won't sign an extension, sell now or let him leave next summer for nothing. Also, they've just splurged €15m on Marco Reus who plays in the exact same position.
I'm a big fan of Kagawa. Terrific player.

[John_D]

Re: The Football Chat (cont) : Wed May 30, 2012 2:58 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

or just a commercial venture to sell shirts in Asia?

Good grief. Do we still have to bring this up whenever a player from the Far East signs for a Premier League club? There are some good players from that way out y'know, much like there are in every other part of the world.

(general rant, not aimed at Saddened! in particular)

Re: The Football Chat (cont) : Wed May 30, 2012 3:11 pm  

So it looks like Rodgers to Liverpool. Any views?

Re: The Football Chat (cont) : Wed May 30, 2012 3:44 pm  

Smiggs wrote:

So it looks like Rodgers to Liverpool. Any views?

Very young, very inexperienced as a manager. The short time he has been in management he was done well, but I don't think he has done anywhere near enough to be deserving of the job he's just been given.

He could be very good though. The style of Swansea's play has earned a lot of praise this season, so if he can replicate that style with the better players at his disposal at Liverpool then he could be right for them.

It's a risk though.

Re: The Football Chat (cont) : Wed May 30, 2012 3:59 pm  

Smiggs wrote:

So it looks like Rodgers to Liverpool. Any views?

with or without Hammerstein ?

Re: The Football Chat (cont) : Wed May 30, 2012 4:03 pm  

Grass roots soccer in Spain is just as competetive as it is in many other countries, including the UK. The big difference I've noticed is that the kids here play a lot of 5-a-side (futbol sala) and really work on their first touch and quick passing. Up until around 12 or 13 years old contact is virtually non-existent but that leads to players milking it to the point that some of the fouls at teenage and open age are as soft as your pocket.